THE INTERACTION BETWEEN DRUG ABUSERS AND SELECTED FAMILY VARIABLES

ARLENE PATETE HURLEY, Fordham University

Abstract

This study compared family variables that differentiated completers from non-completers in a drug treatment program and identified the factors related to completion/non-completion status. Thirty families of completers and thirty families of non-completers, randomly selected, were compared. The data were obtained by using a semi-structured interview technique. Chi-squares were performed, the associations were not significant, and there were no relationships between completion status and fathers' employment status, mothers' employment status, place of birth of parents, encouragement by parents, encouragement by others, parent drug usage and frequency of drug usage. Single classification analyses of variance were performed, differences were not significant, and there were no relationships between completion status and numbers of children in the family, birth rank of siblings, parents' income and age of mother at the birth of the child. Analysis of variance was performed; the difference was significant, and there was a relationship between completion status and who else (other than parents) encouraged. There were twice as many fathers and friends in the completion group giving encouragement and also other family members. This finding supported Baekeland and Lundwall's (1975) statement that family support was related to completion of a drug treatment program. Chi-squares were performed and the associations were significant. More parents of non-completers recently used drugs than did parents of completers and more parents of completers never used drugs than did parents of non-completers. This finding supported Smart and Fejer's (1972) statement that, in order to reduce drug usage by children, parental drug usage must be reduced. Finally, there was a greater return to drug usage by non-completers than by completers of the drug treatment program.

Subject Area

Academic guidance counseling

Recommended Citation

HURLEY, ARLENE PATETE, "THE INTERACTION BETWEEN DRUG ABUSERS AND SELECTED FAMILY VARIABLES" (1983). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8326177.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8326177

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